AG Ellison to mediate UMN–M Physicians–Fairview talks; parties resume negotiations
The University of Minnesota, Fairview Health Services and M Physicians agreed to resume talks over the medical school’s future funding and clinical partnership with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison managing the negotiations and naming a team to assist and help select a mutually agreed mediator. The move follows a contentious standoff — Fairview and M Physicians had announced a roughly $1 billion, “foundational and binding” framework they aim to finalize by end of 2025, while UMN regents unanimously criticized the pact as an overreach (calling it a “hostile takeover”), passed a resolution directing negotiations with the university and prompted the removal of M Physicians leader Dr. Greg Beilman from a UMN vice president post.
📌 Key Facts
- University of Minnesota, M Physicians and Fairview agreed to resume negotiations on the medical school’s future funding; Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison will manage the talks and a mutually agreed-upon mediator will be selected, and Ellison named a team to assist on Dec. 5, 2025.
- Fairview and M Physicians say they executed a binding term sheet and aim to complete a definitive clinical agreement by the end of 2025; the framework includes a $1 billion, 10-year capital commitment slated to start Jan. 1, 2027.
- Fairview says it remains committed to the previously announced 'foundational and binding' agreement, wants time-limited discussions that do not reopen settled terms, and cites urgency because physician departures from M Physicians are currently nearly 30% higher than average.
- The University of Minnesota Board of Regents passed a formal resolution (Nov. 13–14, 2025) criticizing M Physicians for negotiating the deal, asserting it exceeded its authority and directing M Physicians to negotiate with the University; the regents said the agreement was negotiated in secret and expressed 'grave concern' to the attorney general.
- Regents chair Doug Huebsch characterized the Fairview–M Physicians framework as a 'hostile takeover' of the U of M Medical School, and the board’s resolution was a step beyond prior administrative opposition letters.
- As part of the university’s response, UMN removed Dr. Greg Beilman from his interim vice president for clinical operations post on Nov. 19, 2025; Beilman remains interim CEO of M Physicians and retains his UMN faculty chair and surgical roles, and the regents affirmed President Rebecca Cunningham’s authority to mitigate conflicts.
- A scheduled Regents meeting on clinical partnership options was canceled after the parties agreed to renewed negotiations.
- Context and stakes: the current UMN–Fairview agreement expires in 2026, and Fairview owns facilities on the UMN Twin Cities campus, including the teaching hospital; AG Ellison said he supports the agreement as an 'important step' and identified remaining items to resolve such as graduate medical education and joint branding.
📰 Source Timeline (6)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
December 05, 2025
11:33 PM
Keith Ellison names team to assist renewed UMN/Fairview negotiations
New information:
- Attorney General Keith Ellison announced the specific team that will assist/mediate the renewed negotiations between the University of Minnesota and Fairview Health Services.
- The announcement formalizes the mediation structure following the parties’ agreement to resume talks.
- Dated December 5, 2025, providing the latest procedural development in the negotiations.
November 21, 2025
7:27 PM
U, physicians group, Fairview to return to negotiations on medical school
New information:
- UMN, Fairview, and M Physicians agreed Thursday night to resume negotiations on the medical school’s future funding.
- AG Keith Ellison will manage the talks with a mutually agreed-upon mediator to be selected soon.
- Fairview says it remains committed to the previously announced 'foundational and binding' agreement with M Physicians and wants time-limited discussions that don’t revisit settled terms.
- M Physicians states it intends to complete a definitive clinical agreement with Fairview by the end of 2025.
- A scheduled Regents meeting on clinical partnership options was canceled after the parties agreed to renewed negotiations.
- Fairview cites physician departures from M Physicians currently nearly 30% higher than average as an urgency factor.
- Context reiterated: the current U–Fairview deal expires in 2026 and Fairview owns facilities on the UMN Twin Cities campus, including the teaching hospital.
1:15 PM
Negotiations resume after University of Minnesota regents alleged ‘hostile takeover’ of med school
New information:
- Regents chair Doug Huebsch characterized the Fairview–M Physicians framework as a 'hostile takeover' of the U of M Medical School.
- Regents sent a Nov. 11 letter to AG Keith Ellison expressing 'grave concern' that the agreement was negotiated in secret and oversteps Fairview/M Physicians authority.
- AG Ellison publicly stated he supports the agreement as an 'important step' and outlined next items to resolve (e.g., graduate medical education and joint branding).
- Specific terms reiterated: the framework includes a $1 billion, 10‑year capital commitment by Fairview and would start Jan. 1, 2027 when the current agreement expires.
- Regents passed a resolution asserting M Physicians exceeded its authority and affirming President Rebecca Cunningham’s power to mitigate conflicts; the interim M Physicians CEO, Dr. Greg Beilman, was removed from a university role.
November 19, 2025
11:19 PM
UMN removes doctor from VP post after Fairview deal
New information:
- UMN ended Dr. Greg Beilman’s interim appointment as vice president for clinical operations on Nov. 19.
- Beilman remains interim CEO of M Physicians and keeps his UMN faculty chair and surgical roles.
- UMN said the move follows the Nov. 13 Board of Regents resolution addressing concerns about dual-role leaders and protecting the integrity of ongoing negotiations with M Physicians and Fairview.
- The Regents’ resolution asserted M Physicians acted “unlawfully,” overstepping its authority, and directed M Physicians to negotiate with the University.
- Fairview and M Physicians said last week they executed a binding agreement with a detailed term sheet and aim for a definitive agreement by end of 2025; the current U–Fairview deal expires in 2026.
- M Physicians noted AG Keith Ellison pushed for direct negotiations with Fairview in September.
November 14, 2025
1:15 PM
University of Minnesota regents oppose $1B Fairview/physicians deal
New information:
- UMN Board of Regents unanimously passed a resolution criticizing the physician group for negotiating a $1 billion funding agreement with Fairview.
- The resolution escalates the dispute over the pact and signals potential implications for how Minnesota trains its doctors.
- This is a formal board action beyond prior administrative opposition letters.
November 12, 2025